Atlantic Tech student works to clean up environment

This is one in a series of profiles this school year of students who are nominated by teachers and chosen by editors as best exemplifying the six character pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship.

Barbara DiFruscio

Age: 15

School: Atlantic Technical High School, Coconut Creek

Grade: 10

Hometown: Sunrise

Trait: Responsibility

Barbara DiFruscio has a strong commitment toward treating others with fairness and respect.

"I have a strong sense that everyone must be kind to one another," she says.

She admits that sometimes it's not easy to show thoughtfulness toward her peers all the time. "Especially if you are having a bad day, stressed or feeling like everything is going wrong," Barbara says. "However, it is good to make an effort because it feels immensely rewarding and just might lift the mood of another person who is in the same situation."

Cathy Castelli, public-speaking teacher: Barbara is a sweet girl. She quietly exhibits all the wonderful traits of a kid of character. She is unassuming in her deeds, yet works to a level of excellence. Her history teacher, Nancy Kramer, nominated her because she exhibits kindness, responsibility and caring. Her chemistry teacher, Brad Gammon, says she is the finest student he has.

When Barbara was in my class last year I was impressed with her earnest desire to volunteer and her willingness to try lots of different activities.

Bill and Biviana DiFruscio, parents: Barbara has the tendency to demonstrate this trait because she has grown up exhibiting this behavior and has made it a habit. It is not too hard to think of Barbara and relate her name to a kind act. The most recent one that comes to mind is how she went out of her way to save her money and buy a grabber tool to pick up garbage from around our neighborhood. She complained because we walk to the bus stop daily and there is lots of glass and garbage because sometimes people are careless and discard their trash. She is planning to do her own neighborhood clean up to improve the environment.

From a very early age, Barbara has proved how much she cares about and is respectful to her surroundings. She has been exhibiting these deeds all her life.

Barbara DiFruscio: I would say my parents motivated me to start doing these acts. Ever since I was very young, my mom and dad instilled in me a set of ethics that I really do believe in and follow. Another thing that motivates me is my desire to make other people happy. Showing respect toward another person and helping them out during a bad time is really important to me. The joy of seeing someone else feel better because of my acts motivates me to continue.

When I perform these acts my self-image improves greatly because I see these traits that I deeply admire and revere in a person being reflected by myself. I am also generally elated because I feel like I have made a beautiful contribution to another person's day. Additionally, it makes me happy because there is the chance that I have done something significant for the person and brought some much needed good to them.

I believe my peers are appreciative when I show kindness or respect toward them. I would say that my deeds do have an impact on people and help improve one's mood, especially if they are having a bad day, as well as positively influence his or her treatment toward others.